INEC begins accreditation of observers for February 3 by-elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission has invited Civil Society Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations interested in observing the February rerun and by-election to apply via an online portal on or before January 17.

INEC said this in a notice issued by its acting Director, Electoral Party Monitoring, Hauwa Habib, in Abuja on Thursday.

Habib advided the organisations to visit (http://observergroups.inecnigeria.org) and complete the application form.

This, according to her, was without prejudice to any previous correspondence with the commission, adding that completion of the prescribed application form (EC14A(l)) remained the only accepted means of application.

“Observer groups should particularly note that all other information including legal status (registration with CAC), evidence of registration with the Civil Society Desk at INEC-Headquarters, evidence of registration previous election observation with INEC (if any), acknowledgment of submission of reports of observation (if any) should accompany the application.

“Any falsification of documents in the submissions will lead to automatic disqualification and possible prosecution.

“The deadline for submission of application is Jan. 17, 2024.

“The list of successful observer groups approved for accreditation will subsequently be published on the commission’s website and EPM observer’s WhatsApp platform,” Habib said.

She added that the vacancies for the by-election/re-run-election occurred across two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies, and three state constituencies spanning nine states.

She added that INEC is conducting the by-election and re-run election stemming from the 2023 general elections as directed by various election petition appeal tribunals.

“Currently, 35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections, while three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few polling units.

“Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday February 3,” Habib added.

PUNCH Online reports that INEC will conduct reruns and bye-elections across the country in February 2024 to fill existing vacancies in the state and federal legislatures.

NAN